----- Original Message -----From: chinojuan2Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 9:11 AMSubject: [MarcosManiacs] modern engines for 1600/1800GTRead some old Wiki articles saying certain engines made the 1600/1800GT a bit nose heavy (perhaps iron block engine). As later Marcos had Rover 8 cylinder, did this make it evebn worse---or were Rover 8 cylinder cars not the same as 1600/1800?
I bring up these questions because I wondered if anyone had a experience or thoughts on placing a Ford or Chevy V-8 into a 1600/1800GT (something like a 289/302 Ford or a 305/350 Chevy). Would these engines make the car too nose heavy and ruin the handling?
I was dreaming about a way to make the 1600/1800 GT more powerful, sound great, have a modern engine anyone can work on....but not at the expense of handling.....
Figured some MArcos had Ford as well as GM engines, so thsi idea shouldn't be too blasphamous :)
Message
Re: [MarcosManiacs] modern engines for 1600/1800GT
2010-06-02 by Donny Lang
In my opinion, the Rover alloy V8 is the best
choice of V8s for the Marcos. As you mentioned, this is the engine that Marcos
used starting in the mid-1980s. It is one of the lighter V8s out there at about
320 lbs and makes decent power, but is still relatively small displacement at
215 ci to 282 ci (3.5 liter to 4.6 liter). The engines are plentiful and cheap
to purchase at U-Pull junkyards coming from mid 1990 Land Rover Discovery and
Range Rovers. The bigger headache and expense comes in mating a suitable
flywheel/bellhousing/transmission. Probably the best match is the Leyland LT77
out of the Triumph TR8 and Morgan+8. I think there are also T5 transmissions
that can be mated with custom bellhousings.
I expect the heaviest engines used in the Marcos
cars were the 3.0 V6 Ford and the 3.0 Volvo. My car came with a 2.0 V4 Ford
that weighs at least 100lbs more than the Rover V8 I am replacing it
with. ;I would consider the small block Fords and Chevys mentioned as too
heavy unless you came across an all alloy version.
-Donny